The Black Materia

by Kender20

AU For two thousand years, the Planet Gaia had suffered under the rule of the four Jenova Lords. But from the darkness, a light of hope emerges in the form of two young friends: one, the victim of a terrible curse; the other, a child of a vanished race. Together, they embark on a quest to find the one thing that would end the Jenova Lords' reign once and for all.

4. The Branding of Cloud

Note: this was the hardest chapter I had to work on so far; it was in desperate need of polishing! But luckily for you, it's finally done! So without further ado... our heroes have managed to escape the Jenova Lords, and are now contemplating as to what to do next. Much will be revealed as Cloud tells the story of his past, and of how his friendship with Zack began. Enjoy!

Chapter 3: The Branding of Cloud

The new companions rested under the shade of a gnarled tree centered in the Bright Shroud. The motorcycles were left to the side, their engines up in smoke.

"It's a good thing we gave those bastards the slip before we ran outta gas," Cid noted.

"Yeah," Cloud replied. "My right eye doesn't hurt anymore. Probably means we're safe."

"You know, I'm impressed with you and Zack over there. It's your first time riding motorcycles, and yet you both rode 'em like seasoned champs!"

Cid's words, of course, sent Yuffie straight to emptying her queasy stomach.

Cloud gave a small smile. "I'm surprised I didn't get motion sickness like she did." The smile vanished the moment he gazed in the direction of Bugenhagen's Cliff. The others looked on, as well; even through the glowing trees they could see the faint light of the raging fire where the observatory once stood.

"Bugenhagen…" Tifa sighed.

Nanaki trotted forward, unable to believe what had transpired. "Our home… Grandfather… gone!"

After staring for what seemed like an eternity, Zack could no longer hold back his tears. Stepping toward the tree, he sat down and sobbed softly.

Barret couldn't hold back his emotions either. He let out a scream, shooting the air with his gun arm. All the animals nearby fled from the noise. "DAMN J'NOVA LORDS! DAMN EXTENSIONS!"

"Cut it out! You're making too much fucking noise!" Cid barked. "You want the Jenova Lords to come after us again?!"

Within minutes, the man with the gun arm stopped shooting and sank to his knees. "Old Man Bugenhagen had t' stay behind and get killed…"

"No," Zack said suddenly. Everyone turned toward him in surprise, even Yuffie, who recovered from her motion sickness. "Bugenhagen is still alive."

"What?!" Cid gasped. "You mean that?!"

"If he wasn't, I… I'd be hearing his voice by now."

"But if Bugenhagen's alive," Tifa asked, "why are you crying?"

Cloud's eyes widened in horror, remembering who else had stayed behind. "Angeal… No… he… he couldn't have! Zack! Is… is he… dead?"

Zack sniffed and nodded his head. "Yes." The companions stepped closer for an explanation, unable to believe what they had heard. "The Extensions got him. I… I heard his voice… while we were making our escape. He was the one who told me to go down the path… that allowed us to shake off the Jenova Lords." His breath hitched to release another sob. "Even now, I feel his presence among our ancestors… I-I still can't believe it! First Minerva… a-and now Angeal!"

Cloud slumped down, as though the words added weight to his shoulders. Abruptly, he walked away from the group to another corner of the forest, his head bowed low.

Even in the midst of mourning his mentor, Zack quickly took notice. "Cloud?" Receiving no answer, the Cetra stood up and rushed after him. "Cloud, wait! CLOUD!" It was a good distance before he caught up. "What's gotten into you? Where are you going?"

Cloud stopped. When he finally spoke, his voice was ladened with guilt. "Zack, admit it. It's my fault Angeal got killed."

"Your fault?! Now what gave you that idea?!"

"I'm one of the Branded! I brought the Extensions to Bugenhagen's Cliff!" He took his shard out of his pocket, glaring at it. "What was Lady Minerva thinking? Giving this shard to the likes of me?!"

He pulled back to toss the shard away, but Zack caught him by the wrist, forcing him to drop the shard on the spot. "CLOUD, ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?! None of this is your fault!"

"But it is my fault…" Cloud protested weakly. "If I had let Sephiroth take me away eight years ago—or better yet, if I had died at the bridge in Nibelheim—then none of this would have happened!"

The next thing he knew, Zack pulled the back of his head. Hard.

"OW!"

Tightening his grip, Zack forced the blond to face him.

"Don't… you… EVER say that again! You did not bring the Extensions to Bugenhagen's Cliff; they were the ones looking for us! And yes, I'm sad that Angeal is gone, but he chose to stay behind and hold them off for our sake, even at the cost of his own life!"

Cloud squeezed his eyes shut, trying to pull himself away from Zack's grip.

Zack shook his head and let go. "Cloud, I know you're upset about this as much as I am, but think of it this way: were you responsible for the destruction of my village, Gongaga? Were you responsible for the extermination of my race?"

Cloud looked up at his friend with wide eyes. "No! I-I had nothing to do with it!"

"Exactly! What happened sixteen years ago, and what happened back at the Cliff… it's all on the Jenova Lords' heads. Not yours."

To the Cetra's relief, Cloud seemed to calm down. The blond bowed his head. "I guess I understand… somewhat. Still, I never thought this quest would be… so hard!"

Zack smiled. "Nobody said it was going to be easy. It's not. And that's something I can now say from personal experience. We both have a lot to learn out here in this world, and if we're to save it together, then we can't let a setback like this drag us down." He patted his friend's shoulder. "Now let's head back to where our new friends are waiting and get some shuteye. We have a big day tomorrow."

Cloud nodded as a small smile returned on his face. "Sure."

xX0Xx

The calming sounds of nature filled the morning air. The calming part was familiar to Cloud. But with the sense of calm now came wonder and a small, healthy dose of fear. Even in his troubled childhood, he had only known of the forests and glades of the Bright Shroud and their creatures through books and television. To actually be there in person was a completely new experience. The thought of coming face to face with all those strange plants and animals scared him.

Cloud thanked the Planet that he did not have to face this journey alone.

All the others had already woken up and healed themselves thanks to Bugenhagen's potions. They gathered close to him and Zack.

"So now we have two shards…" Nanaki said.

"Yep," Zack replied with a grin. "Two down, two to go."

"Um, I have a question," Tifa said. "Once we get all four of these, and we put them back together, what do we do with… whatever it's supposed to be?"

"Yeah, what is it exactly?" Yuffie asked.

"We s'posed to take it somewhere?" Barret added.

"Come to think of it, Bugenhagen never told any of us about what's so special about these shards in particular," Cid noted. "All he said is that they're the key to savin' the world and that's it. No explanation on how."

"I was wondering the same thing," Zack said. "Minerva and Angeal must have known something about its importance, but they never said what."

Cloud glanced back and forth between the two shards. "What if we put those two together? What would happen then?"

"Hey, I think you're on to something, Cloud! Let's find out."

The two friends positioned their shards together, making half of a sphere. The moment the fragments met, an image appeared on its pure white surface. Two spheres side by side, one white and one black. The white sphere glowed as it conjured up a sword. Then the weapon and the black sphere collided, and pieces flew to the side before the two shards separated again, ending the strange vision.

"What just happened?" Yuffie asked.

Nanaki tilted his head. "You seem rather perplexed."

"We saw something in there," Cloud said. "Two crystal balls of different colors… they were facing each other as if they getting ready for a battle."

"A battle?" Tifa asked.

"Sure looked like it," Zack replied. "One of them summoned a sword. Now that I think about it, it looked just like the Buster Sword Angeal gave me." Placing his shard in his pocket, Zack took said sword in hand and showed it to his companions. "He said that it plays a key role in the days to come, and I think it's starting to make a little bit of sense. Problem is, we still don't know what role it plays, or how it's tied to the four shards."

Cid muttered, "So many damn questions…"

"Wait," Cloud suddenly said. "Didn't Bugenhagen say something about a 'Wheel of Destiny' and how that would answer those questions?"

"Of course!" Zack gasped. "The Wheel of Destiny! Whatever that is, it might know something about the four shards!"

Tifa clapped her hands. "I see! So our best chance would be to seek out this Wheel of Destiny!"

"Then it's settled!" Cid pounded a fist in his open palm. "We'll get started as soon as we get some breakfast!"

"I'll be da leader o' dis team!" Barret announced.

"Uh, I doubt that one, Barret…"

"Why not?!"

"Well, for one thing, ya lose your temper too easily."

"SAY WHAT?!"

"You know, Cid has a point," Nanaki noted.

A sudden noise nearby soon interrupted the discussion.

"What wuzzat?" Yuffie said. Everyone jumped to their feet, more aware of their surroundings.

"Cloud," Zack asked, "is your right eye hurting right now?"

"No."

"Good. Then it's nothing to do with the Jenova Lords." Zack looked around. "Still, if there's one thing I know about the natural world, it's that there're wild animals living there, as well as some monsters. This place is no exception." A smile played across his lips. "I say this is our cue to go out and find some food."

"Are you sure?" Tifa asked. "None of us have been to the Bright Shroud before. There's a big chance we'll get lost."

"That won't be too much of a problem," Zack said. "Thanks to my Cetra heritage, I have the ability to talk to animals. If there's any local wildlife willing to guide us around, we'll find our way soon enough."

"I sure hope you're right."

"For now, though, we'll be splitting up to cover more ground." Zack said as he sheathed the Buster Sword. "It's a bit of a risk, but it's our best option. Cloud, you go with Tifa and Yuffie to search for food in the trees, as well as look out for monsters. Cid, Barret, and Nanaki will come with me to the moor to see if we can find some grub there." He took a pink ribbon from his pocket. "I'll also keep a lookout for any animals who are willing to become our guide. I'll tie this ribbon onto one of them and send it over to your group to help you with navigation."

Cloud simply nodded. "Just be careful."

"Don't worry. I will."

And with that reassurance, the two groups parted.

xX0Xx

"Hey, monster! Come out, come out wherever you are!" Of course, the only thing that responded to Yuffie's call was a startled bird.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Tifa asked. "You may be able to use a shuriken, but you're still just a kid."

"JUST A KID?! I'm twelve years old! I can handle a big monster myself! You just wait!"

Tifa shook her head before her eyes landed on a certain blond sulking by her side. He bowed his head low, as if trying to avoid her gaze. Fighting back a blush, she took the initiative. "So Cloud… is there something on your mind?" He didn't give a direct response, but the long sigh he let out more than answered her question. "I know you might not want to talk about it, but… what happened eight years ago? How did you get Branded in the first place?"

Cloud stopped, startling the martial artist. For a quiet moment, she worried that she had struck a nerve. But then he raised his head. "Tifa… it's been eight long years since we last saw each other. You deserve to know what happened to me that day." He took in a deep long breath. "Do you remember that time, when your mother passed away?"

Her breath hitched, and her eyes misted with tears. "How could I not?"

oV9Vo

"I wanna go see Mom!" An eight-year-old Tifa burst through the door with tears in her eyes, passing a startled eight-year-old Cloud.

"Tifa? Tifa, wait! What's the matter?" Receiving no answer, Cloud rushed after her as she headed toward the mountain.

"I'd always been the village outcast," Cloud said. "Even the adults looked down on me, and I was the target of every bully in town. The only person who cared about me was my mother, and I loved her so much. She was there for me when my father died of a terminal illness long ago."

"I admit, we weren't initially close friends," Tifa said. "But still, you were a nice kid."

"Yeah… and that was one of the reasons I liked you from the start. I had no friends, and I wanted you to be the first. So for many years, I would try whatever I could think of to make you notice me. Then one day, in August, you finally did. I was so overjoyed. It seemed like everything in my life would finally go right. But two days after that, your mother died and you ran towards the Nibel mountain range…"

"Tifa, come back!" the little blond cried out as Tifa slowly tottered onto the old, rickety bridge. "It's too dangerous!"

"But my mom's spirit might be on the other side!" Tifa called back. "I wanna see her before she goes into the Lifestream!" The little girl proceeded across the bridge.

"No, wait! TIFA!"

In an instant, the bridge gave way. Cloud grabbed hold of Tifa's hand, trying to pull her up. Instead, she dragged him down with her.

They fell down the chasm screaming.

"For a moment, everything was black. When I finally opened my eyes, we were at the bottom of the chasm… and you were lying there on top of me. I got away with only scratches and skinned knees, but you… You were unconscious and severely wounded. You can only imagine how scared I was for you. Taking you in my arms, I hurried back to the village as quickly as I could…"

"Why did you bring her there?!"

"What the hell is the matter with you?!"

Cloud stood in front of the crowd, trembling at their hateful glares. "I…I didn't…"

"It's your fault she's like this!" bellowed Tifa's father. "What if she dies?! It should have been you, not her!"

The boy immediately burst into tears.

"…I tried to tell everyone what had happened, Tifa. But no one believed me… at first. They were all so angry at me, especially your father; he forbade me from ever going near you again."

"Oh Cloud…" Tifa sighed, her own eyes misting into tears.

The blond lowered his head. "I was afraid that you wouldn't make it. I felt so weak, so helpless… I felt that even if you did survive, you would hate me for what happened. I was certain that I lost my friendship with you…"

"Just to make it clear to you, I don't hate you. And I certainly don't blame you."

A sad smile crept upon Cloud's lips. "Thanks, Tifa… Anyway…" He let out a sigh, trembling at the memory. "I was so distraught over what happened I didn't notice when it got dark. I knew the stories. I heard the warnings. But I didn't care… until he showed up…"

In the cold, clear night air, Cloud hunched over near the well. Only his quiet sobs broke the silence.

Overwhelmed with heartbreak, he didn't notice the soft footsteps approaching or the shadow enveloping him.

Finally, a husky voice spoke. "Hello there. Why so glum?"

Cloud jumped back, gasping, and found himself staring wide-eyed at a man he'd never seen before. A man with long silver hair, dressed in black.

The man smirked at him. "Don't be scared. I am here to help you."

"Help… me?" Cloud muttered.

"Tell me what's wrong."

The little boy lowered his head. "I was finally going to have a friend. But… but then… something bad happened. I tried to save her, but…"

"Did you tell the villagers what happened?"

"Yeah… but they don't believe me! They say it's my fault she's dying!"

"I believe you."

Cloud slowly looked up in astonishment. "You do?"

The man nodded. "I have been watching you from afar." He stepped closer. "Cloud Strife, is it?"

"Y-yes sir."

The man knelt down. "You'll be turning nine in three days, correct? Well, I can make your birthday wish come true. All you have to do is come with me to my castle."

The man's green eyes held a sinister glow. Only then did Cloud gasp. "You're the Jenova Lord… Sephiroth!"

Sephiroth smirked. "Yes."

Cloud backed into the corner of the water tower. "S-stay away! E-everyone in Nibelheim warned me about you!"

"Did they?" The Lord stood, crossing his arms. "Since when have the people of this village ever cared about you?"

Again, Cloud gasped.

"As I said before," Sephiroth continued, "I have been watching you from afar. I've seen how they treat you, how the other children mock you, and kick you when you're down. And the adults are no better. They look upon you as if you're an abomination." He reached out a gloved hand. "My brothers and I are nothing like those fools. Receive my mark, Cloud, and let me take you away from this place. With me, you will never have to suffer under their ridicule again. You will be great, and you will be strong!"

Cloud trembled, trying to back away like a cornered animal. "But I don't wanna go with you!"

"No?" Sephiroth said, raising an eyebrow. The smirk didn't change one bit. "Don't you want to be worth something?"

"Y-yeah, but-"

"But you'd rather stay in a world that abhors you." The boy fell silent as the Jenova Lord continued his dire reasoning. "And that girl you like so much… she will most likely die. And even if, by some miracle, she manages to survive, I highly doubt that she will forgive you for letting her get hurt."

Tears flowed from Cloud's eyes. The Jenova Lord was right. He wasn't wanted here. Everyone hated him… And most likely, Tifa would, too.

"You see? No one is going to miss you when you're gone. So forget about those fools. Receive my mark, and become great. You deserve much better."

"…I didn't want to get branded by Sephiroth. Nor did I want him to take me away to Castle Jenova, never to be seen or heard from again. Even back then, I didn't trust him. But I was so heartbroken, so filled with despair… I felt like I had no other choice…"

Little Cloud stood up, blinking away his tears as he gave a firm nod.

Sephiroth chuckled. "A wise decision, Cloud." The Lord reached out an open palm and enveloped it with green and black energy as he covered the boy's right eye.

In an instant, indescribable agony overwhelmed Cloud. He wanted to tear that accursed hand away from his eye, but he couldn't move an inch.

After what felt like an eternity, Cloud screamed. At that very moment, Sephiroth's hand finally lifted away. The right eye, once a soft blue, now glowed a harsh shade of green… the same color as that of the most powerful Jenova Lord.

"…It was a decision that I've regretted ever since. Not long after I was Branded, all the people of Nibelheim came out of their homes and gathered around me and Sephiroth. To be honest, I didn't expect anyone in the village to hear my screams, let alone respond. I'll never forget the look of horror in everyone's eyes when they saw me and realized what had happened. Even the cruelest of bullies didn't want their victims to suffer the fate of becoming one of the Branded. Sephiroth succeeded in shaming the mob that night, not only by confirming my innocence, but also pointing out that it was their cruelty toward me that drove me to stay outside so he could claim me as his prize."

"I guess it's safe to say that the villagers finally believed you, huh?" Tifa said.

Cloud nodded. "After that, Sephiroth left, saying that he would return for me on my ninth birthday—which was taking place in only three days. It didn't fully sink in until my mother hugged me, her eyes filled with tears. And how could I have forgotten my mother, the one person in the village who loved me no matter what?!"

Cloud sat on a fallen log, inviting Tifa to do the same. "In the days that followed, everything changed for me. The adults treated me more kindly. Children who once bullied me reached out their hands in friendship. It made everything that much more painful…"

"Oh, now you want to be my friend…" Cloud muttered. "WELL, YOU SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT BEFORE I GOT BRANDED!"

"Cloud, wait!" One of the children said, reaching out to touch his hand.

Cloud swiped away the gesture. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" Crying, he rushed into his house, further cementing the children's guilt.

"Cloud… we're so sorry!"

"…The whole time, you never woke up. Nibelheim mourned. They mourned for the possibility of your death, and they mourned for me as well. Once a boy is Branded by the Jenova Lords, he will be taken, no matter what. I was so scared. I never knew what happened to the other boys who were branded before me, and I didn't want to find out."

Once more a sad smile crept across his face. "It turns out that I didn't have to. Mother was determined to save me from Sephiroth and his brothers. No one knew that she would be the first person, the only person, who would dare to challenge fate…"

Deep into the night of the second day, Cloud laid in his bed unable to fall asleep. Tomorrow was his ninth birthday, his last day in the world. He hugged his pillow tighter, allowing the tears to fall.

Suddenly the door to his room opened. He instantly sat up and saw that it was his mother.

"Mom! You're back!" he gasped. She had left earlier in the morning without explanation, and had been gone all day. Cloud gave her a tight hug. "I thought I'd never see you again… before… before Sephiroth…"

"Shhh… It's going to be all right, Cloud."

"I don't want to be stolen away!" Cloud cried, not for the first time since his Branding.

Mrs. Strife gently broke the embrace. "Cloud… Look at me." The boy wiped away his tears, facing his mother intently. "Yes, you are now a cursed child like all the other boys before you. But you will not be stolen! I have a plan."

To Cloud's amazement, she took out a bottle filled with a strange liquid. "I've made contact with a Paladin of Cosmos who is going to help me do something that has never been done before. But in order for this to work, you must do exactly as I tell you. Do you understand?"

Cloud stared wide-eyed at his mother, before nodding vigorously.

"…She told me that this potion would put me into a very deep slumber, and that I must drink it before I go to bed. And so I did. When I awoke, I was within the mountain range, where I met the Paladin who went out of his way to help me. He told me what happened after I drank that potion…"

Cloud's ninth birthday, a scream of horror reverberated from the Strife household, rousing the villagers from their slumber. In nearly an instant, a huge crowd flooded to the front steps, fearing the worst. Although unsure of what to do next, they badly wanted to make amends to the boy they treated so poorly.

That was the scene that lay in front of Sephiroth when he arrived minutes later. Seated on his Shadow Creeper, he frowned, staring in curiosity at the villagers' unusual behavior.

Climbing off his mount, he strode toward the crowd. Slowly, the heads of the villagers turned toward him. They recoiled as they finally took notice.

"Where is the boy?"

The crowd remained silent, too terrified to speak. Several of them shrank down, as if he might attack them at any minute. His frown grew deeper.

"I ask you again. Where. Is. The. Boy?"

More people shrank away, but still, their horror rendered them mute.

Finally, he heard the hysterical wails from within the house. The crowd spun back toward the source of the noise. Mrs. Strife came out of the door, weeping, followed by a doctor. In her arms, she carried the limp form of a familiar boy.

The doctor sadly shook his head, and soon the whole village uttered a wail of their own, some tearing at their hair and others falling on their knees. Not a single eye remained dry.

Undeterred, Sephiroth stepped forward. "What is the meaning of this?"

Mrs. Strife flinched before gazing up. "Forgive me, Lord Sephiroth! But my son… he's… he's dead!"

"Dead?" Sephiroth said, raising and eyebrow. This had never happened before. "Are you certain?"

"He was so distraught over becoming the Branded… he took ill the previous day. From there, his health got much worse…" She let out a sob. "P-please forgive me! I tried everything I could to get him to feel better, I gave him medicine, healing magic, everything I could think of! But nothing worked. And now…" Once more the woman broke down into sobs, trembling as she held her boy close.

Sephiroth came over to examine his prize. He placed is fingers on the boy's neck to check his pulse. Nothing. He felt for air coming from the nose and mouth. Again, nothing. No breath, no heartbeat, no sign of life whatsoever. The woman had spoken the truth.

"Have you tried phoenix downs to revive him, or any sort of powerful resurrection magic?"

"Y-yes," The doctor answered. "But not a single one of them had any effect. I-I'm sorry my Lord... but he's gone. Just don't kill me!"

To the doctor's astonished relief, Sephiroth only let out a frustrated sigh. "How disappointing… And I was just ready to take him with me as a gift for his ninth birthday. Regardless, a Branded who is dead is of no use to me, my brothers, or my mother." He turned away from the crowd of mourners. "I will spare you for the time being. Go ahead and prepare for Cloud's funeral." And with that, he mounted his Shadow Creeper and made a hasty departure.

Once the Jenova Lord left, Mrs. Strife faced the villagers. "Everyone, if you would be so kind… let me take him to the mountains. I would lay him there before he goes into the Lifestream."

"I'll come with you," Mr. Lockheart said.

"Thank you, Mr. Lockheart, but no. I understand how dangerous the mountains are, but this is something that I must do alone."

The man let out a sigh. "Just be careful, all right?"

With a single nod, Mrs. Strife wrapped her son in a thick blanket and headed toward the Nibel mountains.

As they mourned the supposed death of the young Branded, not a single villager in Nibelheim noticed the figure of a Paladin with pale blond hair watching over the pair from the shadows.

"Wow! To think that I was still in a coma when all this was going on," Tifa said. "Your mother was good! I mean, she was able to fool everybody, even the mighty Sephiroth!"

"Yeah, she knew what she was doing. Before I go on with my story, when did you finally wake up?"

The martial artist grew sad. "Well, I was out for a week. And I remembered everything. As I was getting ready to go see you, I found my father even more depressed than he ever was before. He was the one who told me that you had died, Cloud. He never gave me the details you shared with me, but there was no doubt that he blamed himself for it. I was very upset about the news, so much so that I lashed out at him, saying that it was his fault that you were dead. It made his guilt and depression even worse… and a few days later…"

"What happened?"

"…Father committed suicide. It was Zangan, the man who taught me martial arts, who took me in and raised me."

"Oh… I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's not your fault."

Cloud sighed. "Still, at least I understand what you went through. As you know by now, her plan to save me was successful. But it was still far from perfect. When she took me deep into the mountains, she had intended to find the Paladin who helped us and escape to the Fortress of Cosmos together. There was only one problem, though: Along the way, we had a run-in with pack of Nibel wolves. In her rush to escape them, she slipped and we fell into a crevice. She took the blow to save me as we landed. We were so off course, that by the time the Paladin found us, it was already too late…"

"NOOOO! MOM!" Cloud cried, leaning against the cold body of his mother. He just couldn't believe it. The effect of the potion he drank had just worn off and he finally woke up… He was certain she was going to go with him to the Fortress. Why did it all go wrong? Why did she have to die?

The Paladin stepped toward the boy and bent down on one knee, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Cloud, I'm sorry. But now we must go."

Cloud looked up and wiped his tears. "B-but, Sir, can't we take her with us? You know a spell that can bring her back to life, don't you?"

"Even if I tried, it wouldn't work. She's already too far gone. We have no choice but to leave her and hurry to the Fortress of Cosmos. If we stay here any longer, the Jenova Lords will find us, and your mother's sacrifice will be for nothing!"

Cloud wanted so badly to protest, but he realized that it would do him no good. So instead, he nodded in acceptance.

The kindly Paladin smiled. "All right then. Take hold of my hand. I'll lead you down a path where the eyes of Jenova don't follow." Cloud obeyed, and as they walked away, he turned back once to watch his mother's body fade into the Lifestream.

"…In a sad sort of way, it was her death, along with the snow of the mountains, that erased all the signs that I had survived. Otherwise, I wouldn't have made it to the Fortress of Cosmos undetected. At least, that's what the Paladin told me. We traveled through an underground tunnel, one of the few places where the Jenova Lords and their minions fear to tread. When we finally made it to the Fortress itself, I was awed by the power and beauty it represented. The other Paladins were surprised to see me in their halls at first, but when my rescuer told them my story, they immediately warmed up to me, and brought me over to meet Lady Minerva herself."

A small smile crept upon his lips. "Minerva… I'll never forget the first time I saw her. So beautiful and so kind… it was as if my mother had come back to life! She was among the first to welcome me with open arms. She gave me good food, a warm bed… she even went as far as to plan a surprise birthday party for me the next day! Still, in spite of all that, I was very sad…"

Sunlight filtered in from the window, as Cloud began to stir. Confusion swept over him the moment he opened his mismatched eyes. He rose quickly, surveying the room.

Then the door opened, and a female Paladin stepped in, smiling. "Good morning Cloud! Lady Minerva asked me to give you a tour around the Fortress. If you don't mind, that is."

Memories of the previous day returned to the boy. He placed a hand close to his right eye and frowned.

After getting dressed, Cloud reluctantly followed the lady Paladin as she showed him the way around the Fortress. In a sense, he was glad to have someone guide him. But even so, he hardly paid any attention until he felt a ray of sunshine on his skin.

For a moment he stood in awe at the beautiful sight before him. Fresh grass, majestic trees, beautiful flowers of every hue… even a pool with a cascading waterfall!

"This is our open-air garden," the lady Paladin said. "One of our greatest Paladins, Angeal Hewley, planted many of the flowers and trees here. He's definitely got a green thumb, that's for sure!"

Cloud stepped toward the center of the garden gazing out at the blue sky. It reminded him of the world he left behind. Prior to their arrival, his rescuer made it clear that, for his safety, he could not set foot outside the Fortress until Lady Minerva said otherwise. Which he figured would be highly unlikely. "So this is it…" he said, broken. "This is my home now." He sat on a rock, hugging his knees. "I guess it doesn't matter if I'm here or in Castle Jenova. Either way, I'm never going back to Nibelheim again."

The lady Paladin knelt by his side. "Cloud, I completely understand. But we are doing this to protect you from Sephiroth and his brothers. Lady Minerva's powers are such that she created a special shield here, so that the Jenova Lords will not notice your presence."

"I know."

"Cheer up. You just need to get used to living here." She gave a wink and a knowing smile. "Who knows? Perhaps you'll find something that will make it all worthwhile." Then she stood up to dust off her pants. "Well, I'm off. How about you stay here for a while? Nature does have a calming effect on troubled minds."

The young Branded could only nod before she walked away. But as soon as she was gone, he bowed his head, ready to cry in his loneliness.

yY0Yy

In another part of the Fortress, a small figure panted heavily as he did his squats. He suddenly stopped and stood still as though listening to something.

"Huh? Mom? Dad? What is it?"

His lips soon stretched into a smile, and he turned toward the doorway.

"Alright! I'll go check it out!"

yY0Yy

Although many found the music of the waterfall soothing, that was not enough to give Cloud any much needed comfort. His thoughts continued to drift toward his now-deceased mother, and Tifa. Tifa… would she really miss him? He doubted that. As far as he knew, she was most likely dead as well.

The poor boy was so caught up in his own sorrow, he didn't notice a figure making his way into the garden.

"Hey there!"

He barely had time to be surprised when he saw a young boy smiling at him. The boy appeared to be a little older than him, sporting short, spiky black hair and wearing a small version of the Paladins' everyday uniform, colored white. Cheerfully, the boy stepped toward Cloud. "I've never seen you around here before. Are you new?"

Cloud turned away, staring at the ground in front of him. The other boy didn't seem discouraged, however.

"You're definitely a new resident of the Fortress. Otherwise, the Paladins would be hiding me from you. I'd always be taken to one of our secluded rooms whenever the Fortress of Cosmos has visitors. I'm their biggest secret, you know?"

Cloud didn't pay much attention to the boy's chatter. "Go away!"

"Aw c'mon, don't be like that! You're probably feeling a little homesick, I understand. A lot of Paladins left their homes at one point or another to serve the good cause. But you shouldn't get all wrapped up in that kind of dilly dally."

"I said, LEAVE ME ALONE!" Cloud lunged toward the boy, ready to beat the pulp out of him. To his surprise, the older boy grabbed him by both wrists. The young Branded continued his fruitless struggle against what turned out to be a strong opponent.

"You wanna fight?" the boy asked, undaunted. "You wanna fight?" In reply, Cloud pressed on in his attempt at an attack. "I'll teach you!"

He stopped instantly, staring up at the boy. "Huh?"

The boy grinned as he loosened his grip. "Yeah, you heard right! I'll teach you how to fight using swords. I mean it, too!" To prove his point, the boy rushed over to pick up a pair of sticks and gave one to Cloud. "Here! We're too young to use real swords, so we'll practice with these."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course!" the boy replied with a wink. "Now I'm going to teach you the basics of swordplay, like Angeal taught me!"

"Angeal… You mean Angeal Hewley, right?"

"Yep! I take it you heard of him?"

"Only recently."

"Well, you're gonna love him when you meet him! He's one of the greatest Paladins of Cosmos, but he's more than that! To me, Angeal's like a big brother and a dad all wrapped in one! And when I grow up, I want to be a hero just like him! Anyway, let's get started!" He led the young blond to a place in the garden with a lot of room to move. "Now the first thing you need to know is how to intimidate your opponent. Let 'em know you're not someone to mess with. If it helps, think of yourself as a coeurl sizing up its prey, or a Nibel wolf challenging the alpha of his pack. You get what I mean?"

"Yeah, I think I do."

"There are times, though, when your presence alone won't be enough to psych out your enemy. That's when you let out a powerful battle cry." The boy posed in a fighting stance. "Go ahead, show me your battle cry right now."

"O-okay!" Cloud took a deep long breath, gripping his stick hard. Then he charged as fast as he could, letting out a small bark of a yell before leaping upward. The older boy simply blocked his attack with seemingly no effort.

"Hey, not bad! But you know what? You can do way better than that! Do as I do!" After a brief pause, the boy let out his own battle cry.

Compared to Cloud's, it was like the roar of a mighty dragon!

yY0Yy

The boy's voice echoed through several parts of the Fortress, reaching the ears of a young man with short straight black hair and light stubble on his chin. Startled by the noise, the Paladin, Angeal, snapped out of his meditation and turned in the direction of the sound.

Mere seconds later, he frowned. "ZACK!" he yelled as he stood up, "YOU BETTER NOT BE SCARING THE ELDERS AGAIN!" He rushed out of the room as quickly as he could, eager to stop whatever mischief his pupil was about to get into.

yY0Yy

Cloud tried again. Puffing up his little chest to make himself look tougher, he let out a strangled scream. It sounded more like the bellow of a grizzly than the roar of a dragon, and not quite as impressive, but it was still a big improvement from his last attempt.

"Awesome! Now that's what I'm talking about!"

"You really think so?"

"I know so! Now let's get to the fun part! I'm going to show you the basics of swordplay. Come at me! Just don't step on the bugs, though!" And with that, the two boys started clashing their sticks.

Angeal entered the garden at this point. Imagine his pleasant surprise when he found his student, practicing swordplay with the Branded boy. Not only practicing, but trying to teach him as well! The Paladin's lips curled into a proud smile. "Well I'll be…"

Cloud grinned, unaware that he and his new sparring partner had attracted an audience. For the first time in his entire life, he was having fun! All thanks to that strange boy.

Finally, they lunged at each other one more time—the older boy knocked Cloud's stick away, breaking his own in the process. They both watched as the sticks landed on the ground before slowly turning to face each other. They stared for what seemed like an eternity. Then both began to smile. Then they began to chuckle. And soon both were sharing a good laugh.

"Wow!" Cloud finally said. "You… you were so amazing!"

"Hey, you're not so bad yourself. We should definitely do this more often! After all, there are no other kids our age here. What's your name, by the way?"

"Cloud. Cloud Strife."

"Cloud, huh? Pleased to meet you. I'm Zack." The two boys shook hands. "I'm sure we're going to be great friends!"

"Friends…" Cloud muttered, and he began to smile again.

"It looks like you finally found your sparring partner," a deep voice called out.

"Angeal!" Zack bounded over to greet his mentor. "Have you been watching us? What did you think? Cloud was pretty good, wasn't he?"

"That's Angeal?" Cloud asked in awe at the big man before him.

Angeal chuckled. "Yes, Zack, I saw the whole thing. And I admit, you both did a good job. But you still have a long way to go before you can call yourselves Paladins of Cosmos."

"Yeah, I get it," Zack said.

"W-wait…!" Cloud gasped. "A-Angeal, Sir… you really think I can be a Paladin too?"

The Paladin gave him a gentle smile. "Of course. You have great potential. And to make sure you reach it, I'll train you along with Zack, if you want."

The Branded had never before felt so excited. If he was a Paladin, then he could be stronger. He could stand up to the Jenova Lords and protect everything dear to him! "Oh yes, please!"

"Then it's settled. We'll start first thing tomorrow morning."

"Oh yeah, this is awesome!" Zack cheered, putting an arm around his new friend. "Let's give it our all Cloud! Then we can be heroes together!"

Amazingly, Cloud couldn't agree more.

"So that was how you and Zack met," Tifa said in wonder.

Cloud nodded, smiling at the memory. "Many years passed since that day, and that was the moment when everything finally went right. I was able to adjust to my new life in the Fortress of Cosmos. Within its walls, I knew I was safe from the Jenova Lords. And best of all, I had Zack. He was the best thing that ever happened to me, the first real friend I ever had. We did many things together, and spent a lot of time in the open-air garden. We played, we learned, we got into mischief… Of course, Zack did most of the pranks. I followed along, but it was still fun. Even when we got into fights, it didn't leave a scratch on our friendship. Even now, our bond is very strong."

Tifa could clearly see the joy in her friend's eyes. "Since you've grown up with him, did you know that Zack is a Cetra?"

"Not until two years ago. But even before then, he's always acted… different from everyone else. A year after I was hidden away, Zack came to me with some questions and ended up giving me a small bit of insight on his past…"

"Cloud," twelve-year-old Zack asked his now ten-year-old friend. "You used to live in the outside world, right?"

"Uh-huh."

"What's it like out there?"

"…Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering."

Cloud frowned. "It's a horrible place. But it's wonderful, too. If you want me to give you the details… it might take a while…"

"Yeah, the world is a big place. I want to go out and see it, but Mom and the other Paladins won't let me. It's for a very good reason, and I'm well aware of what it is."

"Funny, they wouldn't let me leave either. Not that I want to… It's just…"

"That it's too dangerous? I know exactly what you mean! I've been there!"

Cloud's mismatched eyes seemed to bug out. "Really?! But… but I thought you were born here! That you've lived here all your life!"

"Well, not exactly," Zack said. "I actually came here when I was only three years old, so my memories of the outside world are pretty vague. But I do remember certain things." It was at that moment he took a pink ribbon from his pocket and held it out for his friend to see. "This ribbon right here? This is all that I have left from my mom."

"Wh-what? But I thought Lady Minerva was your mother."

"I have two mothers. Minerva was the one who adopted me when my real mother died."

"Oh… I see. What about your dad?"

Zack paused for a moment. "He's dead, too. And so are my grandparents… and my aunts, uncles, cousins…" His lips started quivering, and soon his cheeks became wet with tears. "Everyone…!"

Cloud realized that there was something more going on, but he decided not to press the issue for now. "I'm sorry."

Zack sniffed and gave a small smile. "Don't be. I'm just glad we have something else in common. After all, you lost your mom and dad, too."

"…That took me by surprise. I've never told him about my parents, and yet he seemed to know. But then again, I never thought that he was anything but human. Just that he was a bit… strange at times. Sometimes, I would find him playing with the animals that would sneak into the Fortress. He also talked about conversations he had with people who weren't even there. I thought he had imaginary friends from growing up alone.

"As time passed, however, I was starting to get some suspicions about him, thinking maybe he's not exactly as human as I thought he was. I never confronted him about it, though; I didn't want to hurt his feelings. But one day, two years ago, I finally got the answer I was seeking in a way I never thought possible…"

Cloud entered the open-air garden, like he always did when he wanted to clear his head, or find his friend. In this case, it was the latter, and his steps had a particularly energetic bounce this time around, which added to the smile in his eyes. He got something new, and he could hardly wait to show Zack!

It didn't take long to find him seated on a rock. "Hi, Zack! Are you up to some sparring?"

Instead of his usual cheerful response, Zack gave no answer. He didn't even acknowledge Cloud's presence.

"Zack?"

"Shhh, quiet!"

Cloud jumped back at the harsh tone. For a while, he didn't dare utter another word.

After a moment of silence, Zack turned toward him and smiled. "Sorry about that. Just trying to concentrate."

"What were you listening to? Our 'ancestors' again?"

Zack nodded.

"No offense, but... aren't you getting a little old for imaginary friends?"

Zack turned away for a moment, frowning at the grass. "So you really don't know what I am?" A forlorn sigh escaped his lips. "Well then, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you think of them that way."

Cloud tilted his head sideways in confusion. "Huh? What are you talking about?"

"Oh, it's nothing!" Zack said, waving his hand with a smile before standing up. "Anyway, let's get started! You seem pretty excited today."

Cloud smiled as he took out a longsword.

Zack whistled. "Angeal gave you that?"

"Yeah. I'm finally old enough to wield a real sword. I've been practicing with it, so now we won't have to use old wooden swords."

"That's great! Let me get my own sword." Zack hurried over toward the door where his own sword rested.

Cloud watched as he friend rushed back, blade in hand. His face was a picture of enthusiasm, but his movements seemed to have lost their energetic bounce. "All right, let's do this! Just watch out for the bugs!"

"Okay!"

Now, real swords, with their weight and their incredible sharpness, would have given the sparring session a new sense of danger and excitement. It started out that way. But as time went on, Zack became slower than usual, not to mention sloppier.

Cloud frowned. Was he going easy on him?!

Muscles tensing, he lifted his new sword and picked up the pace, his strikes becoming more aggressive.

It didn't seem to help much. Zack barely managed to fend off the attacks. But just barely. It was as though his mind was completely elsewhere.

Finally, Cloud thrust straight to Zack's chest.

At the same moment, Zack stopped.

His eyes gazed blankly into the distance above as he lowered his own blade.

"ZACK!"

Zack attention snapped back to reality. In a panic, he raised his sword.

Thrown upward by the weight and momentum, the two swords slid against each other.

Zack stepped back, crying out as he clutched his wounded left cheek.

Cloud stared in horror. For a moment, neither of them moved. "...Zack! A-are you all right? I-I'm so sorry!"

"I...I'm fine." Zack tried to grin, even as the deep, x-shaped cut started bleeding sluggishly. "I'm all right. No need to apologize." The smile soon vanished at the sight of his friend. "Cloud?"

"Zack," Cloud said. "I know you're bad at keeping your focus, but this time, you're putting yourself in danger, and I know it's not like you to do that! I mean, what if I stabbed you in the heart instead, and you ended up dying?!" He sighed. "Maybe it's best that I leave you alone for a while. We'll spar again when you feel more up to it."

Zack started trembling, much to Cloud's confusion. "...Alone." Slowly, he turned away. Cloud stepped forward, growing concerned.

"Zack? What's wrong?"

"All alone..."

The sword slipped from the wounded boy's hand and clattered to the ground. His breath hitched. He lifted his head to the sky.

"Mom... Dad... ancestors... it's not true, is it?" Zack murmured. As he stood for a moment in silence, tears welled up in his eyes. "Why...? Wh-why won't you tell me? The longer I stay here... the more I'm convinced that I'm... that I'm..." He was really starting to choke up now, and he lowered his head. "Maybe Angeal's right... There's no one... like me... There's no one like me!"

His body shook as the tears he struggled to hold back finally flowed down his cheeks.

Cloud reached out to place a comforting hand on his shoulder, but stopped. His eyes widened as he gazed at Zack's ears. Though he had seen them many times before, this was the first close look he'd ever gotten.

"Zack... your ears...!"

They were pointed. They were the size of human ears, but they were pointed!

"You're really not human, are you?"

Zack gave no answer. At least not the one Cloud wanted.

"Cloud… I… I'm going to the healer."

And with that, he began to walk away, no longer able to hold back his sobs.

"Zack? Zack, wait!" But he was already gone.

yY0Yy

Cloud wandered down the silent, empty hall. The things Zack said didn't make any sense. And why had he never noticed his pointed ears until now? Still, it confirmed Cloud's growing suspicions. What it didn't do was answer the question as to what Zack was, and since Zack didn't to want to talk about it, Cloud looked for the one person who knew his friend the best.

He found that person leaning close to the window, arms crossed as he gazed outward.

"Angeal?"

The Paladin looked up. "Cloud! What brings you here?"

Cloud took in a deep breath. "It's about Zack. He's upset, and he said there's no one like him. I want to help him, but I don't know how. I don't even know why he's feeling so sad."

Angeal sighed. "Then you've come to me at the right time. He talked to me about the same thing earlier this morning."

"Really? What was he talking about?"

He glanced at Cloud. "Have you ever heard of the Cetra?"

"Um… yeah, I think so. They're supposed to be a race of people with strong ties to the Planet. But they only exist in fairy tales… don't they?"

"A long time ago, that was not the case. The Cetra were a very real people. They used to number by the thousands, if not more. But all that changed when Jenova and her four sons came to power."

Cloud stared in shock.

"The Jenova Lords are extremely cruel and calculating. They take great joy in pain, death, and destruction, and have been known to kill hundreds of innocents for sport. The Cetra were their favorite victims. The few they didn't kill outright were taken to Castle Jenova and tortured to death. But the Cetra were anything but defenseless; although a peaceful race, they were capable warriors when they needed to be. That was how they were able to fend off the Jenova Lords for nearly two thousand years. In the end, though, it was not enough."

Angeal stared downward. Cloud quietly encouraged him to continue.

"I was only twelve, and still in training, when it happened. The Jenova Lords and their Extensions set forth in an all-out attack on the last remaining Cetra villages. One such village was Gongaga, located deep in a jungle. Its residents called out to the Paladins for help. We set out as fast as we could, but the Jenova Lords were faster. By the time we finally arrived, it was already too late. The entire village was destroyed and all the Cetra were dead, every last one of them… except for one small boy, a toddler no older than three. That boy has been living among us Paladins ever since."

Cloud gasped. "Zack is a Cetra?!"

Angeal smiled and nodded. "The only one left in all the world. I know this without a doubt, because I was the one who rescued him."

"…I've always wondered why he acted so strange. Now it all makes sense!"

"And you know why he's so sad right now?"

Again, Cloud gasped, his eyes widening. "He was lonely…! I'd better go see him!" He was about to leave when Angeal stood up.

"Then let me come with you. I have a feeling he's not where you think he is."

Angeal led him down the empty hallway. "When it comes to certain emotions, you and Zack are very much alike. If I'm correct, we'd be able to find him right about… here."

They stopped at Zack's bedroom. Sure enough, Cloud heard a familiar voice sobbing from inside.

"Zack…"

Angeal placed a hand on Cloud's shoulder. "Go in and talk to him. He needs you."

Cloud nodded. Slowly, he stepped toward the door and pushed it open.

Zack sat cross-legged on his bed with his back towards Cloud, his whole body shaking with pitiful sobs. Cloud stepped inside. "Zack? It's me, Cloud."

Zack sniffed, turning his head toward him. "Cloud…?"

"It's all right, Zack. It's okay… I'm sorry about what happened earlier. Being the last Cetra must be hard."

Almost instantly, Zack spun around. "You… you know! B-but how did you…?!"

"Figure it out?" Cloud said, glancing back toward the door. "Angeal told me. He told me everything." He gave a comforting smile. "I still want to hear it from you, though. Do you want to talk about it?"

Zack relaxed and bowed his head. He opened up to his friend right then and there, revealing what he remembered that horrific day. How the Jenova Lords killed his family, and destroyed his home. How the Paladins rescued him, and how Minerva came to be like a second mother to him. And most of all, how his loneliness and his many questions fueled his desire to leave the Fortress of Cosmos.

Cloud also revealed the details of his own story. Zack stood up, staring at his friend.

"No way… you were brought here for the same reason I was! Your mom never told me about that!"

Cloud chuckled sadly. "Yeah. I'm the Paladins' biggest secret, just like you. And it's because of the Jenova Lords that neither of us are allowed to leave. That's fine with me, though. To tell you the truth, I'm scared of them… especially Sephiroth."

"…I'm actually scared of the Jenova Lords too. Every part of them scares me, their dark clothes, their silver hair… their toxic green eyes." He couldn't help but shiver. "And that's saying a lot, because I don't scare easily! Maybe that's why I feel so uncomfortable whenever I look at your right eye."

Cloud nodded. "The point is, Zack… I get it. I get what you're going through!" The blond put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Whenever you feel down, come to me. I'll give you a shoulder to cry on, like you did for me. You can cry on my shoulder right now, if you want."

For a while, Zack was speechless. Once more the tears welled up in his eyes. "Cloud… Fo'aan!"

"Huh?"

"'Fo'aan.' It's Cetran… for 'Thank you.'"

"Oh…! I see. So, how do you say, 'You're welcome?'"

"Thaalabum."

Cloud smiled. "All right. Thaalabum."

He reached out and pulled Zack into a brotherly hug. Returning the comforting embrace, the Cetra leaned his head on Cloud's shoulder, sobbing his heart out once more. The two friends stayed that way for quite some time while Angeal watched closely, smiling.

oV9Vo

"…After that, our bond became stronger than ever before. He told me how my mother came over from the Lifestream to say hi to me, and my father, too. I was touched by the news. He even taught me me a game he made up as a kid, and invited me to play it with him. For another couple of years, life in the Fortress of Cosmos went on like it always did. Then two days ago, Lady Minerva bade us take part in this quest for the four shards, and passed away. By now, you know the rest of the story."

"Wow, you and Zack have really gone through so much these past eight years!"

"Yeah. Seeing Zack so lonely because he's the last of his kind… I can't help but feel sorry for him. So I made a promise to myself… that if, by some miracle, I happen to find another living Cetra… I would bring them to him. And that way, he could meet them face to face and know that he's not alone. It's a promise that I might never be able to keep, but at least I can try."

The martial artist gave her early childhood friend a smile. "You're really sweet."

Suddenly, there was a rustle of leaves, followed by the shouts of an angry twelve-year-old. "HEY GET BACK HERE!"

"I, uh, think we need to get back to finding food. And keep Yuffie in tow before she gets herself in trouble."

Cloud nodded as they both stood up. "All right. Let's mosey."

Note: In our next chapter, Cloud and his group meet a certain resident of the Bright Shroud who is more than willing to help guide them and the rest of their friends! Who exactly is she? What special secret does she hold? And what does it have to do with a certain hero with midnight locks? One thing is for certain: it's the moment Zerith fans are waiting for! But you're going to have to be patient! Until Next Time!